All patients who had the criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock underwent daily transthoracic echocardiography examinations from which detailed data on left ventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic volumes areas, and diastolic measurements were obtained. In addition, numerous clinical, hemodynamic, respiratory and laboratory data were prospectively collected, including data on survival up to 2 years after admission. Blood samples were collected, centrifuged and serum separated for additional biomarker tests, mainly troponin and NT-proBNP.